Validade científica das teorias de Newell e Simon e de John Searle. Será pertinente a continuação do debate?

Abstract

This paper is a critical discussion on the scientific validity of two antagonist theories which debate the possibility of Man and Machine sharing the same basic characteristic of thought. A. Newell and H. Simon state that symbolic manipulation is a sufficient condition for intelligent behavior. J. Searle denies that possibility arguing that intentionality – an intrinsic characteristic of the human brain – is a necessary condition for intelligence, and cannot be shared by non-biological systems. We analyse both theories according to Karl Popper’s scientific validation criteria. The main conclusion is that Searle’s theory is not a scientific one.